The BEST Episodes of Pokémon
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: May 6, 2020
Network: TV Tokyo
A young boy named Ash Ketchum embarks on a journey to become a "Pokemon Master" with his first Pokemon, Pikachu. Joining him on his travels are Brock, a girl-obsessed Rock Pokemon Trainer, and Misty, a tomboyish Water Pokemon Trainer who may have a crush on him. Ash and Co. end up traveling through various regions, including Kanto, the Orange Islands, and Johto, and then enter the Pokemon League competitions there. Along the way, they run into many confrontations with Jessie, James, and Meowth, a trio of Pokemon thieves who are apart of an evil organization called "Team Rocket". But everytime Team Rocket try to do their evil deeds, they fail thanks to Ash and his Pokemon.
#1 - Championing a Research Battle!
Season 17 - Episode 25 - Aired May 7, 2016
After hearing Gym Leader Olympia’s ominous prediction, Champion Diantha visits our heroes just as Ash and Greninja are doing some special training. To find out more about the bond they share in battle, Diantha challenges them, and Ash jumps at the chance! Diantha’s Gardevoir easily evades every hit…until Ash and Greninja begin to merge. Gardevoir has to Mega Evolve to keep up, and the bond between Ash and Greninja intensifies like never before—until they both pass out! Diantha promises to learn more about this bond and how it might relate to Olympia’s prediction. After his battle with the Champion, Ash is even more fired up for the Kalos League!
9.28 
#2 - Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!
Season 18 - Episode 146 - Aired Nov 3, 2019
With their big vacation on the horizon, the heroes set some life-changing plans into motion.
9.14 
#3 - The Moment of Lumiose Truth!
Season 16 - Episode 67 - Aired Apr 9, 2015
9.00 
#4 - From Z to Shining Z!
Season 18 - Episode 144 - Aired Oct 20, 2019
8.91 
#5 - All Eyes on the Future!
Season 16 - Episode 92 - Aired Oct 22, 2015
8.90 
#6 - When Regions Collide!
Season 18 - Episode 43 - Aired Sep 21, 2017
8.87 
#7 - Showcase, Debut!
Season 16 - Episode 60 - Aired Feb 12, 2015
The day of the Hiyoku City Tripokalon arrives and the group reunites with Sana. Serena makes a step towards her dream but quickly learns that first times can be tough.
8.75 
#8 - The Synchronicity Test!
Season 17 - Episode 23 - Aired Apr 21, 2016
Clemont has been wondering about the mysterious change that sometimes happens to Ash and Greninja during battle, and he wants to get to the bottom of it—with science! He challenges Greninja to battle his Luxray while “Clembot Mini” performs an analysis, but nothing unusual happens. While Greninja is healing up, Alain and his Charizard stop by the same Pokémon Center and enthusiastically agree to the next battle! During this fierce competition, Ash and Greninja sync up, and Greninja transforms in a spectacular display of power—but after Ash has an intense and scary reaction, the battle is cut short. Still, he’s determined to get stronger alongside Greninja!
8.74 
#9 - Defending the Homeland!
Season 16 - Episode 69 - Aired Apr 23, 2015
8.72 
#10 - Fairy-Type Trickery!
Season 16 - Episode 74 - Aired May 28, 2015
8.69 
#11 - Revealing the Stuff of Legend!
Season 18 - Episode 52 - Aired Nov 30, 2017
Our heroes are all gathered at the Altar of the Sunne, along with all four of Alola’s Island Guardians. Lillie and Gladion ask the Island Guardians for help to rescue their mother, Lusamine, who has been taken through an Ultra Wormhole by a mysterious Ultra Beast. After Tapu Koko and the others perform a ritual, little Nebby evolves into the mighty Solgaleo—one of the Legendary Pokémon of Alola! At Solgaleo’s invitation, the Pokémon School students climb onto its back. With the help of a new Z-Move, Solgaleo opens an Ultra Wormhole and carries them through, off to rescue Lusamine from the Ultra Beast!
8.65 
#12 - Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted!
Season 17 - Episode 37 - Aired Aug 11, 2016
The long-anticipated Kalos League finals are getting under way, as Ash faces off against Alain in a full six-on-six battle! The two seem evenly matched, trading one knockout after another: Pikachu beats Tyranitar and then switches out for Noivern, who falls to Alain’s Weavile. Hawlucha defeats Weavile, then loses to Alain’s Bisharp. Next, Ash’s Talonflame and Alain’s Unfezant knock each other out after a spectacular aerial battle, and it’s tied at three and three! Pikachu returns to face the massive Metagross—and shows amazing determination as it hangs on for the win! Then, Alain calls on his partner Charizard, and both Pokémon are confident and excited for the battle ahead!
8.64 
#13 - One Journey Ends, Another Begins...
Season 18 - Episode 21 - Aired Apr 6, 2017
8.59 
#14 - A Real Icebreaker!
Season 17 - Episode 29 - Aired Jun 2, 2016
After a breakthrough, Ash is back at the Snowbelle City Gym for a rematch with Wulfric—and this time, things are quite different! Wulfric challenges Ash to show him a fiery battle, and Ash certainly delivers, as his Pikachu and Talonflame take down the Gym Leader’s Bergmite and Avalugg before the exciting final face-off. It’s Greninja versus Abomasnow…and then it’s Ash-Greninja versus Mega Abomasnow, as Wulfric reveals an unexpected Key Stone! Even in the face of such a challenge, Ash-Greninja rises to the occasion, and Ash wins his final Gym badge and qualifies for the Kalos League!
8.58 
#15 - Showdown at the Shalour Gym!
Season 16 - Episode 43 - Aired Sep 25, 2014
Ash challenges Korrina for the Shalour Gym's Rumble Badge, with his Hawlucha, Fletchinder, and Pikachu facing off against her Mienfoo, Machoke, and Mega Lucario.
8.55 
#16 - Ash Versus the Champion!
Season 14 - Episode 52 - Aired Oct 13, 2011
As Ash, Iris, and Cilan leave Nimbasa City, they pass through a street festival and meet back up with Trip. Ash shows that he has won his fourth Gym Badge, but Trip shows that he has five Badges. He retells his story of what pushes him to be a Pokémon Master when they spot the Unova League's Champion Alder bothering an Officer Jenny, and hitting on her. After introductions, Ash challenges Alder to a match: Bouffalant vs. Pikachu. Bouffalant's strong defenses prevent Pikachu from winning, but a badly-targeted Afro Break from Bouffalant hits Alder, ending the match abruptly. The event causes Trip to lose faith in his idol, and he leaves. At a Pokémon Center, Alder hits on Nurse Joy, before he has lunch with Ash and his friends. ey.
8.54 
#17 - Party Dancecapades!
Season 17 - Episode 13 - Aired Jan 28, 2016
Serena gets an invitation to a dance party hosted by Pierre, the emcee of the Pokemon Showcase! Everyone is there, including Jessie and James (of course), and even Kalos Queen Aria. Dancing isn’t the only thing on the schedule—there’s also an entertaining Tag Battle! The party gets even more remarkable when Eevee joins the battle...
8.48 
#18 - The Right Hero for the Right Job!
Season 17 - Episode 41 - Aired Sep 8, 2016
Lysandre’s threat to the world continues, but our heroes have split up and are fighting back on several fronts! Ash and Alain face Lysandre in battle, and Malva joins them in solidarity. Meanwhile, Bonnie confronts the menacing Zygarde, bravely singing her Squishy song through tears—and Team Flare’s influence fades as Zygarde reconnects with its friend. Clemont enters Prism Tower to defeat Xerosic, and Clembot plugs itself into the control system in an attempt to shut it down. Doing so will wipe its memory, but Clembot insists that they have no choice—and Clemont sadly agrees. He completes the task, and Team Flare’s machine is shut down...for now!
8.48 
#19 - A Full-Strength Battle Surprise!
Season 17 - Episode 26 - Aired May 12, 2016
On their way to Snowbelle City, our heroes run into their friend Sawyer, who’s already won his eighth Gym badge. Ash wants to show off what he’s learned about Greninja, and Sawyer wants to demonstrate how much stronger he’s become, so it’s time for a battle! After some smart tactics from Sawyer, the battle is down to Greninja and Sceptile—but for some reason, Ash and Greninja can’t seem to connect like they usually do, and Sawyer defeats Ash for the first time! Excited, he decides to come watch Ash’s battle at the Snowbelle Gym. Meanwhile, the Team Flare scientists continue their experiments as Squishy tries frantically to contact Z2…
8.48 
#20 - Forming a More Perfect Union!
Season 17 - Episode 43 - Aired Sep 15, 2016
An amazing assembly of powerful Pokémon and Trainers—including the Kalos Gym Leaders and two Champions—have come to help our heroes stop Team Flare! This teamwork allows Ash and Alain to rescue Chespie from inside the Giant Rock, and it seems to be defeated...until it rises once again, under Lysandre’s control. Things seem hopeless until Squishy persuades the other Core to join the fight. The two of them merge together to become the titanic Zygarde Complete, which puts a stop to Lysandre’s plan once and for all. Finally, it’s time for Squishy and Bonnie to say their goodbyes—but they’ll always remember their unwavering friendship that helped save the world!
8.48 
#21 - An Electrifying Rage!
Season 17 - Episode 17 - Aired Mar 3, 2016
For once, Ash, Serena, and Bonnie are having trouble keeping up with Clemont as he rushes toward a festival to honor the Legendary Pokémon Zapdos—who arrives in a raging lightning storm! Our heroes seek shelter in a cave, where they meet an injured paramedic who asks them to deliver some medicine. When Ash finds Team Rocket hiding in another part of the cave, it becomes clear why Zapdos is so angry! He sends Talonflame and Hawlucha out to distract Zapdos so he can get away, and when Zapdos knocks Hawlucha down, Noibat evolves into Noivern to rescue its friend! The medicine is delivered, and the festival is on!
8.47 #22 - The Lonely Deino!
Season 14 - Episode 56 - Aired Nov 24, 2011
Continuing their journey to Driftveil City, Ash and Cilan are about to have a practice battle. However, two Deino run into the area and start wrecking all their stuff and running out of control. Ash and Iris decide to capture them, but it fails. Soon a man named Bobby comes by and reveals that he is watching these Deino for other trainers at his Daycare Center. They follow him back to his Daycare Center and see all the Pokémon he is taking care of. They also see that there is a third Deino at the center, but it is very shy. As Ash and Cilan help Bobby take care of the other pokémon, Iris makes it her personal mission to help the shy Deino come out of its shell.
8.45 
#23 - A Towering Takeover!
Season 17 - Episode 39 - Aired Aug 25, 2016
The Kalos League award ceremony is interrupted as giant creeping vines engulf the stadium and threaten to take over Lumiose City! Lysandre broadcasts Team Flare’s manifesto: they want to create a new world order, where only the “chosen ones” will join them. Ash and Alain set off to rescue Mairin, but Ash is shocked to discover that Alain has been working with Lysandre, and Team Flare imprisons Ash atop Prism Tower. His friends try to help, but an angry Zygarde stands in their way—until it’s confronted by a second Zygarde, as Squishy transforms and reveals its true identity! A showdown is imminent, and it’s Zygarde vs. Zygarde!
8.45 
#24 - Mission: Total Recall!
Season 18 - Episode 49 - Aired Nov 9, 2017
After accidentally seeing Gladion and coming face-to-face with Silvally, Lillie is once again unable to touch Pokémon—but she’s determined to change that! With Nebby’s help, she embarks on a journey to recall the memories behind her fear. But Faba wants none of it, having been responsible for Silvally’s creation in the first place. Vowing to make sure Lillie never remembers her past, Faba captures her, and she’s again filled with fear. But Silvally rescues Lillie, and when she remembers that it was the one who saved her in the past, her fear of touching Pokémon finally vanishes!
8.41 
#25 - Till We Compete Again!
Season 17 - Episode 47 - Aired Oct 27, 2016
At the Lumiose airport, Ash is heading home to Kanto, Serena is catching a flight to Hoenn, and Clemont and Bonnie have come to see them off. Dedenne doesn’t seem to understand what’s happening, and when Bonnie explains that it’s time to say goodbye to their friends, Dedenne throws a tantrum and runs off to hide! Bonnie soon coaxes it back with a moving speech about pursuing their dreams together, and then it’s time for Serena’s flight and an emotional farewell to Ash. Clemont has the perfect idea for passing the time until Ash has to leave—a battle between Pikachu and Bunnelby, just like on the day they met
8.40